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AIDS 2010: Study finds microbicide containing HIV drug lowers infection risk in women by 39%

A microbicide gel containing Gilead's HIV drug tenofovir used by women before and after sex has been shown to reduce their risk of HIV infection by nearly 40%, according to a study unveiled at the International AIDS Conference-AIDS 2010, Reuters reports

21 Jul 2010

Practice Fusion announces state EHR incentive potential

Last week's announcement of final guidelines for medical providers and EHR vendors has officially kicked off the national health IT transition. As part of the 2009 economic stimulus plan (ARRA), billions have been earmarked to incentivize the Meaningful Use of Electronic Health Record (EHR) technology in the US. Eligible medical providers can each qualify for $44,000+ in stimulus incentives starting in 2011, incentives that will drive health IT adoption and could bring as much as $4 billion to individual states.

21 Jul 2010

Positive family relationships, religious affiliation mediate impact on illicit drug use

American-Indian adolescents continue to have the highest rates of illicit drug use among all ethnic groups. Although previous research has found that increasing adolescent exposure to protective factors can reduce their risk for substance abuse, this has not been thoroughly examined in American-Indian adolescents. Recent findings from a University of Missouri study reveal that positive family relationships and religious affiliation can counteract risk factors - including addicted family members, exposure to violence and deviant peers - associated with drug use.

21 Jul 2010

Researchers receive $12M NCI grant to identify biological pathways that lead to prostate cancer risk

Researchers at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center have received a $12 million National Cancer Institute grant to lead a multi-institution international project aimed at identifying new biological pathways critical to the development and potential treatment of prostate cancer.

21 Jul 2010

UMDNJ identifies direct link between phthalates in plastics and inflammation in newborns

Researchers at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) have identified a direct link between phthalates, the substances that make plastics more pliable and durable, and inflammation in newborns - and are encouraging more limited use of the plasticizers. Their paper, "Inflammatory Effects of Phthalates in Neonatal Neutrophils," appears in the August 2010 edition of the journal Pediatric Research.

21 Jul 2010

Obama resubmits Berwick nomination to Senate, Kagan responds to health law concerns

President Obama on Monday submitted his nomination of Dr. Donald Berwick to head Medicare and Medicaid — "a move that comes two weeks after Obama bypassed Congress to put his stalled nominee in the post until the end of 2011," Roll Call reports. If Berwick is approved, he would have the job indefinitely instead of merely through 2011, a rule that is imposed when a recess appointment is used.

21 Jul 2010

AIDS 2010: Number of HIV positive patients on arvs grew to 5.2m in 2009 with 10m still in need, who says

"The number of HIV-positive people receiving antiretroviral drugs [ARVs] for their infections jumped by more than a quarter in 2009, growing from 4 million to 5.2 million, the World Health Organization said Monday at the International AIDS Conference in Vienna," the Los Angeles Times reports (7/19).

21 Jul 2010

University of Texas scientist creates promising HIV vaccine candidate

The Abzyme Research Foundation announces today that Dr. Sudhir Paul, a scientist at University of Texas Houston Medical School, has identified an important immunological deficiency in HIV-infected patients and has created a promising HIV vaccine candidate that rectifies the deficiency. The discoveries were presented on July 19th and 20th, 2010 at the XVII International AIDS Society Conference in Vienna, Austria.

21 Jul 2010

Polyfluoroalkyl chemicals linked to ADHD in children

A new study led by a team of Boston University School of Public Health researchers suggests a link between polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFCs), industrial compounds which are widely used in many consumer products, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children.

21 Jul 2010

Overweight and obese women at greater risk of preterm births

A new study by researchers at McMaster University shows overweight and obese women face greater risks of preterm births. Their babies may suffer serious health problems from being born too soon, especially earlier than 32 weeks.

21 Jul 2010

Active play is important for children’s physical activity

Active play makes a significant contribution to children’s physical activity and could play an important part in the health of future generations, a new study has found.

20 Jul 2010

World-first dialysis study set to reduce health costs

The results of a world-first controlled trial of dialysis start-time in patients with Stage V chronic kidney disease is set to have major impact on the cost and infrastructure of chronic kidney disease (CKD) treatment and dialysis services.

20 Jul 2010

Nontargeted opt-out screening associated with newly identified HIV-infected patients: Study

The use of routine HIV screening in a hospital emergency department, which patients had the option to decline, was associated with only a modest increase in the number of patients with newly diagnosed HIV infection, compared to physician-directed diagnostic rapid HIV testing, according to a study in the July 21 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on HIV/AIDS.

20 Jul 2010

Aegera reports data from Phase 1 portion of combination AEG35156 Phase 1-2 study for primary liver cancer

Aegera Therapeutics Inc. released today encouraging survival data from the Phase 1 portion of its Phase 1-2 Study of the novel targeted therapeutic, AEG35156, given in combination with sorafenib in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (primary liver cancer).

20 Jul 2010

AVAC applauds CAPRISA 004 microbicide gel trial for preventing sexual transmission of HIV infection

"This is a historic day for HIV prevention research. The CAPRISA 004 results are the first clinical evidence that a microbicide gel can help to prevent sexual transmission of HIV infection," said AVAC Executive Director Mitchell Warren, reacting to the results of the landmark microbicide trial presented today at the International AIDS Conference in Vienna.

20 Jul 2010

Researchers make scientific breakthrough in fight against HIV, genital herpes with a vaginal gel

Researchers have achieved an important scientific breakthrough in the fight against HIV and genital herpes with a vaginal gel that significantly reduces a woman's risk of being infected with these viruses. The results of the ground-breaking safety and effectiveness study of an antiretroviral microbicide gel study were reported today by the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa at the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna, Austria.

20 Jul 2010

Re-framing climate change issue helps people better understand climate-related problem: Research

Framing climate change as a public health problem seems to make the issue more relevant, significant and understandable to members of the public-even some who don't generally believe climate change is happening, according to preliminary research by George Mason University's Center for Climate Change Communication.

20 Jul 2010

WHO advises earlier treatment for people with HIV

An estimated 5.2 million people were receiving life-saving HIV treatment at the end of 2009, according to the latest update from the WHO. WHO estimates that 1.2 million people started treatment in 2009, bringing the total number of people receiving treatment to 5.2 million, compared to 4 million at the end of 2008.

20 Jul 2010

BC-CfE study suggests HAART may prevent transmission, spread of HIV

The BC Centre of Excellence in HIV/AIDS published an important study today in the globally respected Lancet medical journal. The study strongly reinforces the view that the benefits of highly active antiretroviral therapy extend beyond treatment of the virus to significantly preventing the transmission and spread of HIV.

20 Jul 2010

Cash rewards help combat STIs in rural Africa, study finds

Giving out cash can be an effective tool in combating sexually transmitted infections in rural Africa, according to a new study conducted jointly by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, the Development Research Group at the World Bank and the Ifakara Health Institute in Tanzania.

20 Jul 2010

Public Health News and Research

AIDS 2010: Study finds microbicide containing HIV drug lowers infection risk in women by 39%

Practice Fusion announces state EHR incentive potential

Positive family relationships, religious affiliation mediate impact on illicit drug use

Researchers receive $12M NCI grant to identify biological pathways that lead to prostate cancer risk

UMDNJ identifies direct link between phthalates in plastics and inflammation in newborns

Obama resubmits Berwick nomination to Senate, Kagan responds to health law concerns

AIDS 2010: Number of HIV positive patients on arvs grew to 5.2m in 2009 with 10m still in need, who says

University of Texas scientist creates promising HIV vaccine candidate

Polyfluoroalkyl chemicals linked to ADHD in children

Overweight and obese women at greater risk of preterm births

Active play is important for children’s physical activity

World-first dialysis study set to reduce health costs

Nontargeted opt-out screening associated with newly identified HIV-infected patients: Study

Aegera reports data from Phase 1 portion of combination AEG35156 Phase 1-2 study for primary liver cancer

AVAC applauds CAPRISA 004 microbicide gel trial for preventing sexual transmission of HIV infection

Researchers make scientific breakthrough in fight against HIV, genital herpes with a vaginal gel

Re-framing climate change issue helps people better understand climate-related problem: Research

WHO advises earlier treatment for people with HIV

BC-CfE study suggests HAART may prevent transmission, spread of HIV

Cash rewards help combat STIs in rural Africa, study finds

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